Latest News

Wild Salmon Summit – Summary Report

On September 19-21, 2018, the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN), the First Nations Summit, and the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) hosted the “Wild Salmon Summit: In a Time of Reconciliation” at the Westin Wall Centre located on the unceded territory of the Musqueam Nation.

First Nations Leadership Council concerned about Federal Cabinet Shuffle and New Direction in Relationship

Coast Salish Traditional Territory/Vancouver: The First Nations Leadership Council is deeply concerned that the recent shuffle in the federal Liberal cabinet signals a wavering commitment to addressing Canada’s colonial history and to realizing a true nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous peoples. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced adjustments to the government cabinet on January 14, 2019 with the appointment of Minister Seamus O’Reagan to the Department of Indigenous Services Canada, reassigning MP Jane Philpott to a Treasury Board appointment and the replacement of MP Jody Wilson-Raybould, now of Minister of Veteran Affairs, with Minister David Lametti, as Attorney General and Minister of Justice.

UN Rules That Canada's Indian Act Discriminates Against First Nations Women

(Vancouver, January 17, 2019) In a decision released January 14, the United Nations Human Rights Committee ruled that Canada continues to discriminate against First Nations women and their descendants by denying them the same entitlement to full s. 6(1)(a) status under the Indian Act as First Nations men and their descendants. This long-standing discrimination affects First Nations women's entitlement to status, their right to transmit status, and their equality with First Nations men.

Open Letter to Minister Carolyn Bennett:Canada Must Stop Misleading on Joint Claims Reform and Adequately Fund Specific Claims Research

January 16, 2019Dear Minister Bennett,

The National Claims Research Directors (NCRD) is a national body of specialized technicians who manage thirty-five Claims Research Units (CRUs) mandated to research and develop specific claims against the federal government. Collectively we have developed and advanced over 1500 claims.

John W. BrewerSuperintendent, Officer; in ChargeEnhanced Community and Aboriginal Policing ServicesVia email:E_DLT_INFO@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

OPEN LETTER: UBCIC calls upon the RCMP to clarify inaccurate reports

Dear RCMP Division Liaison (DLT):

The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) writes today to rectify the erroneous reports from the DLT regarding actions taken by the RCMP during their enforcement of the interim injunction at the Gidimt’en checkpoint on January 7 and ongoing involvement at the site.

UBCIC Statement of Clarity in Response to Premier Horgan’s Comments on Unist’ot’en

(Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver, B.C. – January 10, 2019) Yesterday Premier John Horgan provided insufficient and inappropriate comments regarding the ongoing conflict in Wet’suwet’en territory. The Premier took a minimum approach to acceptable provincial standards for engagement with Indigenous peoples, in direct conflict with his government’s commitments to full implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration).

UBCIC Condemns RCMP Intimidation of Wet’suwet’en

Land Defenders

(Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver, B.C. – January 6, 2018) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is gravely concerned about the safety and well-being of the Wet’suwet’en land defenders as the RCMP set up nearby the Gidimt’en camp to enforce the interim injunction from the BC Supreme Court in December 2018, which supports Coastal Gaslink beginning construction on a 700km natural gas pipeline and transformation plant.